The word assert (3rd paragraph) is closest in meaning to:
Opportunity Cost
This phenomenon goes by the name of ‘opportunity
cost,’ since by not investing in more equipment and
a more rigid production flow, the company is forgoing the opportunity to earn increased profits. These
costs are every bite as real as the payment of dollars
out-of-pocket.
This notion _______ opportunity cost can be reinforced _________ a famous saying ______ Benjamin
Franklin, no slouch himself _________ operations
management. To make the point, however, we must
make a brief excursion into logic. One truth of logic is
the validity of the so-called contrapositive, which says
simply that if the statement “If A, then B” is true, then
it is also true that “If not B, then not A.” That is, of every
time A occurs B follows, then we can be sure that if B
does not occur, then A did not occur as well. Enough
logic then, and back to Ben Franklin.
One of his Poor Richard sayings is that “A penny saved
is a penny earned.” We have all recognized the truth of
that since childhood, but I assert that by this saying
Ben showed us he knows everything about opportunity cost. After all, what is the contrapositive of “A
penny not earned is a penny not saved (i.e., a penny
sent). All we are saying by this notion of opportunity
cost is that “a penny not earned (an opportunity forgone) is a penny spent.” We shall often have occasion
to consider opportunity costs, in analyzing and deciding various operations issues.
SCHMENNER, Roger W. Production/Operations Management. 5th
Edition. Prentice-Hall, 1993.
Opportunity Cost
This phenomenon goes by the name of ‘opportunity cost,’ since by not investing in more equipment and a more rigid production flow, the company is forgoing the opportunity to earn increased profits. These costs are every bite as real as the payment of dollars out-of-pocket.
This notion _______ opportunity cost can be reinforced _________ a famous saying ______ Benjamin Franklin, no slouch himself _________ operations management. To make the point, however, we must make a brief excursion into logic. One truth of logic is the validity of the so-called contrapositive, which says simply that if the statement “If A, then B” is true, then it is also true that “If not B, then not A.” That is, of every time A occurs B follows, then we can be sure that if B does not occur, then A did not occur as well. Enough logic then, and back to Ben Franklin.
One of his Poor Richard sayings is that “A penny saved is a penny earned.” We have all recognized the truth of that since childhood, but I assert that by this saying Ben showed us he knows everything about opportunity cost. After all, what is the contrapositive of “A penny not earned is a penny not saved (i.e., a penny sent). All we are saying by this notion of opportunity cost is that “a penny not earned (an opportunity forgone) is a penny spent.” We shall often have occasion to consider opportunity costs, in analyzing and deciding various operations issues.
SCHMENNER, Roger W. Production/Operations Management. 5th
Edition. Prentice-Hall, 1993.
Gabarito comentado
Gabarito: Alternativa A
Tema central: aqui trabalhamos sinônimos em inglês — compreender o sentido preciso da palavra assert no contexto do texto e escolher a alternativa que mais se aproxima do seu significado.
Resumo teórico (rápido): Assert é um verbo que significa declarar ou afirmar algo com segurança. Dicionários confiáveis (Merriam‑Webster; Oxford) dão definições como “to state a fact or belief confidently and forcefully” e “to state (something) as true.” Portanto a ideia-chave é declarar/afirmar claramente.
Por que A é a correta: “state clearly” (= afirmar/declara claramente) corresponde exatamente ao sentido de assert. No trecho, o autor diz que “I assert that...” no sentido de firmar uma afirmação. Logo, A reproduz com precisão essa intenção de enunciar algo de modo direto e explícito.
Análise das alternativas incorretas:
B – make it clear: muito próxima, mas tem nuance: “make it clear” enfatiza clarificar algo para que outros entendam (causar entendimento), enquanto assert foca em afirmar/declaração — é mais ativo e categórico. Por isso B é menos precisa.
C – an agreement: substantivo que significa “um acordo”. Não corresponde a verbo nem ao sentido de afirmar.
D – express an opinion: expressar uma opinião é mais fraco; assert implica afirmar com convicção, não apenas expor uma opinião como possibilidade.
E – do something correctly: totalmente fora do contexto; “fazer algo corretamente” não tem relação com assert.
Dica de prova: identifique a classe da palavra (verbo) e procure o sinônimo que mantenha intensidade e função comunicativa. Evite opções muito vagas ou com nuances diferentes.
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